MONTEREY, La. &045; Concordia Parish schools sank 3.2 million of federal government dollars into a reading program this year hoping for drastic results.

They got them.

Cap and gown clad Hunter Smith, 6, graduated into first-grade Thursday night at his Monterey school.

But less than five months ago, Hunter’s teacher didn’t know if he’d pass kindergarten.

The improvement in Hunter’s reading was drastic.

&uot;It went from bringing home everything with Xs to just brining home 100s,&uot; Hunter’s mom Nancy Smith said.

Hunter, who told his mom that his brain clicked, improved his score in one Reading First test by 69 points.

Grant-funded Reading First focuses on teaching five core reading skills at a young age. Students are tested three times a year to measure their progress and make adjustments. When weaknesses are identified, students work with an interventionist for 30 to 60 minutes a day on their specific needs.

Hunter’s problems were identified during the winter Reading First test. From that point on he spent 30 minutes a day with an interventionist.

&uot;It has just amazed me, the progress he’s made in the last six months,&uot; said Gigi Campbell, Hunter’s teacher. &uot;I was very concerned in January.&uot;

Monterey Reading First Content Leader Linda Spinks said she attributes Hunter’s success to the program.

&uot;It just proves that when we start at the lower grades and start working up that we are going to succeed.&uot;

Now mom says Hunter picks up anything and everything and sounds out the words he sees.

He said his favorite book was one on dinosaurs, but he also likes Dr. Seuss.

Reading First was used in all kindergarten through third-grade classrooms in the parish this year. The $3.2 million grant pays for three years of the program.

A change in classroom structure that came with Reading First included 120 un-interrupted minutes of reading each morning.